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Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History
Published On: Apr 19, 2006
Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History
4505 S. Maryland Pkwy.
Las Vegas, NV 89154
Hours of operation: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Cost: Free
For those seeking a history lesson about Nevada should look no further than UNLV. The campus is home to the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History, widely considered to be one of the areas best kept secrets when it comes to learning about some of the oldest living reptiles.
While animals such as the Gila Monster get all the publicity and attention, the true focal point of the museum is the desert tortoise habitat where visitors can come eye to eye with the elephants of the desert. The animals may be a popular exhibit, but the museum also pays homage to the life and time of the Paiute and Hopi Indian tribes. Several photos depict their daily lives while items such as hammers, blades, knives and stone utensils are all on display to illustrate the types of stone tools that the people used.
Another portion of the exhibit is dedicated to the beliefs of the Hopi Indians. Katsina dolls were carved by hand and were used to portray the spirits. The dolls were believed to carry prayers of rain, health and fertility to the gods. Some of the dolls on display represent fertility and the warrior god.
Wander a little farther through the museum and you will find a 72 piece exhibit that tells the history of Mesoamerica. The exhibit ranges from 1500 B.C.-1519 A.D. and features things such as baby figurines, jade masks and tools that were used in lip piercing. Patrons get the chance to live the life of one of the Indians as they can try their hand at weaving on an authentic Navajo loom.
With its storytelling ability and amazing artifacts, its easy to see why the museum has become a cultural mecca for those that want to learn more about the city and the people that were its first inhabitants.
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